To become more efficient, it is essential for a Linux user to learn some basic commands and keyboard shortcuts. He or she must also be familiar with several Linux file directories to at least learn a little on how the system works.

I have here a list of some of the most important Linux file directories (with description) that I hope will serve as a guide for newbies:

/bin

-Contains binaries needed for the boot process and for the system to run. Essential commands such as cd, ls, and more can be found here.

/boot

-Holds files used throughout the boot process along with the Linux kernel itself.

/dev

-Contains device files for all hardware devices on the system.

/etc

-Holds host-specific system configuration files.

/home

-User home directories.

/lib

-Contains shared library directories and files that include kernel modules.

/mnt

-The typical mount point for the user-mountable devices such as floppy drives and CDROM.

/proc

-Contains virtual file system that provides system statistics. It doesn't contain real files but provides an interface to runtime system information.

/root

-This is the home directory for the root user.

/sbin

-Commands used by the super user for system administrative functions.

/tmp

-A standard repository for temporary files created by applications and users.